Todd Ruritan receives community service award

The Todd Ruritan received a $250 award for community service at the Western N.C. Honors program on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

“They (the Western N.C. Community Association) usually give this award to a civic organization that is very active in serving their community,” said Barry Stevens, president of the Todd Ruritan.

According to Stevens, the Todd Ruritan has given an excess of $24,000 to scholarship programs since the groups formation in 1997. Stevens said the group plans to give another $2,000 to scholarship programs this year.

The main scholarship used by the Todd Ruritan is the Ruby A. Trivette Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance for college-bound high school students from Todd.

Stevens said anyone interested in giving to the scholarship fund can send their donation to P.O. Box 234 at the Todd Post Office.

Besides the scholarship fund, the Todd Ruritan also supports several other projects in the Todd community.

According to Stevens, the group has raised funds in order to purchase two community parks, helped maintain the two parks, helped build the stage at the Walter and Annie Cook Memorial Park, and has taken part in roadside clean-up and beautification.

Also, the group has helped organize the Todd New River Festival, the Todd Historic District, the Community Health and Welfare Fund, and Christmas Fruit Baskets for Seniors and shut-in residents.

The Todd Ruritan meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the South Fork Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to visit enjoy the food prepared by the group’s members.

For more information, call 828-964-1362 or visit the web-site at toddruritan.com.